Mindy Serkez works at Extreme Moulding at the Watervliet Arsenal with co-owner Joanne Moon. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

The greatest service we can give people with intellectual disabilities is to facilitate their need to be a part of the community and fulfill their desire to experience life to the fullest. To that point, ARC Rensselaer's Community Inclusion Project (CIP) works to build partnerships with community leaders, businesses and non-profits and sets the stage for people with disabilities to participate in everyday life and achieve goals.

Some of those goals might be to learn, find employment, volunteer, go horseback riding, attend art classes or make pottery. For Danielle Lowe, 28, who volunteers at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter Annex in Clifton Park, she enjoys taking care of cats in need of homes.

"Without the shelter, Danielle never would have met Donna Neilley, the lead volunteer, and created such a strong community friendship," said Nicole Durivage, community support counselor. "Danielle is always so excited to do the work she does and will spend the 25 minute ride home, talking about the cats she named, fed and socialized with."

Promoting presence and participation in the community, exercising choice, developing new skills and enhancing existing skills are among the outcomes CIP hopes people that they support will achieve while also recognizing that independence is integral to developing a valued role within the community. In the three years that Lowe has been volunteering, she has learned to perform tasks without much supervision.

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"We all have seen her confidence grow; she used to only ask me what she needs to do but now she has become comfortable helping with other volunteers," Neilly said. "I feel this work has made a difference in her life."

In the past few decades, the change in the public's eye about people with intellectual disabilities has been dramatic. Gone are the days of the common misconception that people with intellectual disabilities are children, expected to forever act like children. Fundraising campaigns once pinned them as objects of pity. Scandals and reports of abuse at Willowbrook hit the news in the 60s, 70s and 80s and raised public awareness.

"There is a long history of 'dis-inclusion' due to the stereotypes surrounding people with intellectual disabilities," said Jim MacNaughton, ARC senior coordinator.

Now, there is widespread acceptance for people with disabilities to be included in mainstream society; they have the same rights and privileges as everyone else. Recent high school graduates have approached MacNaughton, expressing their interest to continue their education or move forward into careers. "This seems to be a higher set of expectation compared to a generation ago," he said.

In addition to managing her own business, Mindy Serkez, 52, has been employed with Extreme Molding as a part-time assembly worker for seven years. Serkez works in packing and shipping, where she hangs tabs on boxes and fills cartons for shipment.

"I have a system and sometimes people will adopt my way of doing things," she said. "They're proud of me because I've been doing a really good job."

Lynn Momrow-Zielinski and Joanne Moon, co-owners and managing partners of Extreme Molding think that Mindy's role has been attributable to their organization's success.

"She has contributed greatly to performing functions that are key to us shipping high quality product for our customers," Moon said.

Building natural supports, developing new relationships and enhancing existing relationships outside the walls of ARC are goals hardwired into CIP's program. Take for example Amber Ricciuti, 33, who volunteers as supervisor at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

"She has developed a fantastic working relationship with staff and volunteers alike. I am finding that she serves as an excellent role model for other volunteers she works with!" said Mary Mazur, volunteer coordinator. "Not only does she gain great experience interacting socially with others, but she is also developing the confidence to lead volunteers through the sorting process."

Another goal for CIP is for participants to assume chosen valued roles like Andrew Reiss, 29, who began working at Samaritan Hospital as a volunteer. Reiss was dishwasher and worked in the cafeteria, wiping down tables and cleaning when one year later he got promoted to a paying part-time position. Carol Favreau, director of volunteer services at Samaritan, said volunteers like Reiss gain a sense of community by working with others and experience a shared belonging. The staff appreciates the extra set of hands and expresses their gratitude.

"Brian, Gabe and James are the caterers and ever since I started working there, they have been nice to me. They talk, laugh and tell jokes," Reiss said. "Working at the hospital is my dream job. When that day comes, [when my dream comes true] I want to be director of the cafeteria and the dish room."

For more information about CIP at ARC Rensselaer, 79 Second Street, Troy, contact Jim MacNaughton at 573-0324 or email jmacnaughton@renarc.org.